Soccer Rules & Regulations

All team coaches / managers are responsible for communicating ALL the rules to their players. If you have questions about the rules, please ask to speak with the facility / league / tournament director Kevin Perrigo.

Ball Size

U8-U12 - Size #4 Ball

U13-Adult - Size #5 Ball

Number of Players on Field (Including Keeper)

U8-U10 6 Players

U11-U12 8 Players

U13-U19 7 Players

Men’s 7 Players

Women’s 7 Players

Adult Co-ed 8 Players (at least 3 women on field at all times)

Roster Size U8-U10 14 Players U11-Adults 18 Players

Free Kicks All kicks are direct, except any kick-off or goal kicks. Any infraction in the penalty box, (i.e. obstruction, dangerous play, etc.) results in a direct free kick on top of the circle of the penalty area. A defensive wall can be formed at this time. If the referee determines that the foul was made during a scoring opportunity, then the referee can award a penalty kick from the top of the box. All kicks must be taken within 5 seconds after the referee has signaled the kick to be taken. Defensive wall must be 15 feet (5 yards) from the ball.

Five Second Rule On every stoppage of play (i.e. free kicks or throw-ins) teams have 5 seconds to put the ball back into play. When the ball is set on free kicks, the referee will begin counting 5 seconds. When the player throwing the ball in picks the ball up and is set, the referee will begin counting 5 seconds. A referee will not begin counting 5 seconds on a free kick if 15 feet is asked for by the person taking the kick to push the defensive wall back. At that time, a referee will count off the 15 feet and the free kick can only be taken after the whistle is blown by the referee. When the whistle is blown, the referee will begin counting 5 seconds for the free kick to be taken.

Red Cards Fighting, Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Abusive Language toward a referee will not tolerated!! This will result in an automatic red card and the team plays short-handed for three (3) minutes – unreleasable (a goal does not release a player from penalty). In tournament or league play, if a player or coach is ejected from a red card (accumulation of cards or not), that player or coach will be ejected from that game and there will be a suspension of at least 1 game. The severity of the red card will determine the length of the suspension the player or coach will receive. SISC reserves the right to permanently ban any person from the facility for any length of time without refund if a red card is given due to a severe cause.

Restarts During any restart during a game (throw-ins, free kicks, kick-off, etc.), the team that has the restart may not have any players inside of the small goal box until the ball is released back into play. For example, if there is a free kick, once the ball is kicked, then any member from the kicking team can now travel inside of the smaller goal box but not until the ball is kicked. This is the same thing for a throw-in

Players Playing for More Than One Team

During tournament play, a player can only play with one team per tournament level.

During league play, a person can only play for one team per division and the person falls within a legal age division (i.e. U16 player can play in a division from U16 to Adult)

Yellow Card - 3 minutes unreleasable (a goal does not release a player from penalty)

Red Card - 3 minutes unreleasable (a goal does not release a player from penalty)

If a player accumulates 2 Blue Cards, this will equal 1 yellow card. If a player receives 2 yellow cards, this will equal 1 Red Card. If a player receives 3 Blue Cards, it will equal a Red Card. If a player receives a Yellow Card and a Blue Card, it will equal a Red Card. Only Red Cards carry over to next game and will either result in a game suspension or a longer suspension could be issued depending on the severity of the Red Card. Permanent suspension is possible and only SISC management will determine the severity of each Red Card.

If a goalkeeper is given a time penalty (blue or yellow card), someone else from the team can serve the penalty. If a goalkeeper gets a red card, the penalty will be applied as if he/she is a field player and is dismissed from the game with a possible suspension.

If a player or a coach receives a card on the bench, it carries over to the field and a player must sit to serve the penalty. For example, if a player or coach on the bench receives a yellow card (see yellow card penalty); a player on the field must come off and serve the timed penalty. All timed penalties carry over into second half or overtime.

Duration of the Games for Tournaments Each team is guaranteed 3 games of 20-25 minutes each. Semifinals and finals are 25-30 minutes in length. Game times can be altered if games fall behind due to such things as injury. However, altering game times will always be last resort.

Duration of Games for Leagues Each team is guaranteed 8 games with two halves at 25 minutes each half. The top four teams in each division will make the play-offs in which games will be two halves at 20 minutes each half (need to leave room for over-time)

Uniforms ALL teams must have the same color uniforms. ALL teams must carry both home and away jerseys. Pinnies will not be available for usage. A referee can declare a game a forfeit for both teams if both teams have the same color and no alternates. If both teams have alternate uniforms, the AWAY team will always change if necessary.

Keepers

Pass backs are allowed to keepers but keepers CAN’T use their hands on a pass back if the pass back was delivered from a teammates waist or lower. A keeper CAN use their hands if a pass back is a chest pass or a ball is delivered from a teammates head. Keepers can use their hands on any deflections and only the referee can determine if a ball is a true pass back.

Just like outdoors, keepers are allowed to travel outside of their goalie box to receive a ball and return back into their box with the ball and then pick the ball up. Any ball whether outside or inside of the goalie box can be considered a pass back. If a keeper receives a pass back from outside the box, they are NOT allowed to pick up the ball if they return back to the box with it.

If the keeper does touch the ball on a pass back, it is a direct free kick from the top of the arc at the top of the box.

Keepers have 5 seconds to distribute the ball from the time they pick it up.

Keepers are not allowed to punt. However, they can drop kick a ball.

To help protect our keepers, any restart (i.e. free kicks, throw-ins); players from the attacking team are not allowed in the smaller box at the beginning of the restart. An attacking player can travel into the smaller box once the ball becomes live and in play (after the kick has been taken or the ball has been thrown in).

Substitutions

Substitutions are unlimited and may be made on the fly. Players must be completely off the field at their bench site before another player can come onto the field. Teams are not allowed to gain advantage during a substitution (i.e. a player leaving the field on the opposite side of the field to where the bench area is located for another player to come onto the field).

Keepers are NOT allowed to substitute on a penalty kick unless they are injured

Spitting Spitting on the fields is not allowed. A blue card will be issued if a player or coach spits. After a blue card, a referee can determine the color of the card to give on the next spitting infraction. If a player or coach needs to spit, please use the garbage pales.

Slide Tackles

Any form of sliding is not allowed. Players can’t slide tackle an opposing player. Players can’t slide to score goals. Players can’t slide to save the ball from going into the goal or out of bounds. If the ball is in an area of only one player and a slide occurs, the whistle will still blow for a free direct kick. If a player slides to save a ball from going into the net and that player is not a keeper, a blue card will be given to the sliding player and a penalty kick will be issued.

Shinguards must be worn by all players on the field with socks worn over the shin guards.

Cleats are NOT allowed. Turfs and flats only.

All team uniforms must be of the same color

Over-Time Games All over-time games will begin 4 vs. 4 which will include a keeper. After 3 minutes, a player is taken off and teams will play 3 vs. 3 which will include a keeper. Teams will continue 3 vs. 3 until a goal is scored. In the coed divisions, 1 girl must be on the field at all times. Any member on the team can play in goal. All other rules apply for over time.

Netting

A ball hitting the net above the field of play will be considered a dead ball and the referee will blow the whistle for a restart. The referee will determine if the restart is a free kick or a throw-in.

If a team hits the net above the field of play inside of their own box, it is a direct free kick from the top of the arc for the opposing team.

Goal kicks

A team has 5 seconds from the time the ball is placed on the line for the kick to be taken.

A referee can begin counting if it appears that the team taking the kick is stalling.

If both teams are subbing, a referee can stop his 5 second count to let both teams make their changes as long as stalling is not involved.

When the ball is kicked, if the ball does not travel outside the box before it is touched by the team taking the kick, the kick will be taken over again. If the kicking team enters the box intentionally to delay or to get another free kick, the referee can warn a team for this and a second warning may result in a blue card.

When the ball is kicked, if the ball does not travel outside the box before the opposing team touches the ball, the goal kick will be taken again.

Kick-offs Kick-offs can travel backwards on first touch. A kick-off can only start on a referees whistle. A kick-off is not a direct free kick and a goal can’t be scored on first touch.

Illegal Players In tournament play, if the opposing team has a player that your team feels is ineligible to play (i.e. playing on another team in the same division, already red carded, too old for division, etc.), please notify SISC staff BEFORE the game begins. If a team notices an illegal player playing during the game, please notify SISC immediately.

Beginning Games Teams need to have at least 5 players on the field for a game to begin. The clock will begin as scheduled and after 10 minutes, if a team can’t put at least 5 players on the field, that team must then forfeit. All 5 players can be men in the coed divisions.

No Spitting Spitting is not allowed. If a referee warns a player on a team for spitting, the warning then extends to the entire team. However, a referee can issue a Blue Card, Yellow Card, or a Red Card without warning. Spitting will no be tolerated. Please use the garbage cans.

Forfeits If a team is unable to field 7 players 10 minutes after the scheduled start time, the game will be forfeited; a 3-0 win and three points will be awarded to its opponent unless the offending team provides a reason accepted by the tournament committee. If a team forfeits the last game of a round robin or preliminary series or in the case a team forfeits remainder of games, all games prior and after will be forfeited within their division and the opposing teams will receive 3-0 wins and three points.

Time Wasting If a team is wasting time at the end of a half (first or second half) when a free kick is issued (not moving the wall back, kicking the ball, etc.), the referee has the right to put time back on the clock to allow the free kick to be taken. The referee will determine the amount of time to be added.

Please Note If there is a rule that is not on this list, a referee can make a decision that is in the best interest of the game. If any team has a question concerning rules and regulations of play, please contact SISC for more information.